Disposable isolation hospital gown

ABSTRACT

A disposable isolation hospital gown is provided having a main body and a pair of sleeves. Integrally formed with the hospital gown is a disposable wrapper that is particularly positioned or placed such that the gown can be rolled or folded into a bundle, after which the disposable wrapper is reversed and in the process of reversing the disposable wrapper, the bundled gown is stuffed or placed into the reversed disposable wrapper for disposal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gowns, and more particularly to adisposable isolation hospital gown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Isolation hospital gowns are well known. They are worn by doctors,nurses, other healthcare providers, hospital workers and visitors inhospitals and healthcare facilities in the course of treating orhandling patients with serious contagious diseases, infections,potential infections or compromised immune systems. One of the concernswith isolation hospital gowns is that the removal of a gown from aperson will spread germs, bacteria and other infections that mightaffect the person wearing the gown or other people in and around thegown and carried to later infect others the individuals come in contactwith. Generally, no matter how much care is exercised in theconventional handling of an isolation hospital gown, there is a chancethat contamination found on the exterior of the gown will spread.

There has been and continues to be a need for a disposable isolationhospital gown that can be discarded and disposed of in such a fashionthat substantial risk of spreading contamination, infections, etc. isavoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a disposable isolation hospital gown thatincludes an integral one or two part disposable wrapper. Once the gownhas been used or exposed to infection or contamination, the hospitalgown is rolled or folded into a bundle and wrapped in the integraldisposable wrapper.

The present invention also entails a method of disposing of an isolationhospital gown by folding or rolling the hospital gown into a bundle andreversing an integral disposable wrapper that forms a part of the gownand wherein in the process of reversing the disposable wrapper, thebundled gown is placed or stuffed in the reversed disposable wrapper.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the isolation hospital gown of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the hospital gown with the backthereof being open to illustrate a disposable wrapper integral with thegown.

FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of the hospital gown illustrating aportion of a method or process for disposing of the gown.

FIG. 3B is a continuation of the method for disposing of the gown andillustrates portions of the gown being positioned to be folded or rolledinto a bundle.

FIG. 3C is a front elevational view of the gown showing other portionsof the gown being positioned for subsequent folding or rolling into abundle.

FIG. 3D is a front elevational view and shows the continuing method orprocess for folding or rolling the gown into a bundle.

FIG. 3E is an elevational view continuing to show the method or processof folding the gown into a bundle.

FIG. 3F is an elevational view that shows the continuing method orprocess of folding the gown into a bundle.

FIG. 3G shows the gown being folded or rolled into a bundle.

FIG. 3H illustrates the disposable wrapper integral with a gown beingreversed and wrapped over the bundled gown.

FIG. 3I shows the disposable wrapper enclosing the bundled gown.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

With further reference to the drawings, an isolation hospital gown isshown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 10. Hospital gown10 can be constructed of various materials such as conventionalmaterials that are typically used in the construction of hospital gowns,especially isolation hospital gowns that are exposed to contamination.Hospital gown 10 includes a main body indicated generally by the numeral12 and a pair of long sleeves 14 that project from the upper portion ofthe main body. Main body 12 includes two basic areas, a front area 12Aand a back area 12B. Front area 12A is particularly shown in FIG. 1 andthe back area is shown in FIG. 2. Back area 12B is split and includesterminal edges 18. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 and enables the gown 10to be easily placed on and taken off a person. It is appreciated thatthe main body 12 includes an outer surface and an inner surface. In FIG.1, the outer surface of front area 12a is shown. In FIG. 2, the outersurface of the back 12B is shown. Also in FIG. 2, the inner surface ofthe front area 12A is shown.

Continuing to refer to the gown 10, there is provided a neck opening 16that extends around an upper portion of the main body 12. Further,adjacent the edges 18 of the back area 12B, there is provided one ormore fasteners for securing the back area portions together when thegown 10 is worn by a person.

Gown 10 includes an integral disposable wrapper indicated generally bythe numeral 30. Disposable wrapper 30 is secured to and forms a part ofthe gown 10. Note in the preferred embodiment the particular location ofthe disposable wrapper 30. It is placed about the lower portion of thefront area 12A. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposable wrapper30 is generally centrally located with respect to the side edges of thefront area 12A. That is, the disposable wrapper 30 is generally alignedwith the neck opening 16. Also as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposablewrapper is disposed on the inside of the front area 12A.

Disposable wrapper 30 is pliable, non-permeable, and in one embodimentis comprised at least in part of plastic material. Disposable wrapper 30can be secured or integrated into the gown 10 in various ways. Forexample, the disposable wrapper 30 can be glued or stitched into thegown 10. In one embodiment, a portion of the front area 12A can alsoserve as a side or surface of the disposable wrapper 30.

Secured to the side or panel 30A of wrapper 30 is a tab 30C. Tab 30C canbe utilized to maintain the disposable wrapper 30 closed while the gown10 is worn. In addition, and as discussed hereafter, tab 30C is utilizedto close the disposable wrapper when the gown 10 has been wrappedtherein.

FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate how the disposable isolation hospital gown 10 isrolled or folded into a bundle and disposed of by wrapping the bundledgown in the disposable wrapper 30 that forms an integral part of thegown. Starting with FIG. 3A, the left-hand sleeve 14 is turnedinside-outward to form the inside-outward left sleeve 14 shown in FIG.3A. This is typically accomplished by the person wearing the gown simplygrasping an inside surface of the sleeve and pulling the arm out of thesleeve. Once the left-hand sleeve 14 has been turned inside-outward, aleft portion of the back area 12B can be positioned across the frontarea 12A as shown in FIG. 3B. Note that the back area 12B that is foldedover the front area 12A generally underlies the inside-outward sleeve14. In order to narrow the width of the gown, a portion of the back area12B is lapped over another portion and this gives rise to seam or fold12C shown in FIG. 3B. As seen in FIG. 3B, it is important to appreciatethat the portion of the back area 12B shown therein and exposed is theinner surface of the back area. Thus, the person removing the gown andfolding or rolling the gown into a bundle can contact the inner surfaceof the inside-outward sleeve 14 or the inner surface of the back area12B. This enables the person to avoid touching the outer surface of themain body 12 or even the outer surface of a sleeve 14. The wrapper iswide enough that it can encompass any reasonable size rolled gown.

The method or process described above and shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B withrespect to the left side of the gown 10 is repeated for the right sideof the gown. This is illustrated in FIG. 3C. As FIG. 3C illustrates,both sleeves 14 have been turned inside-outward and the back area 12Bfrom both sides has been positioned over a portion of the front area12A. As seen in FIG. 3C, the complete area of the outer surface of 12Ahas been covered by the back area 12B of the gown. Furthermore, theexposed portion of the back area 12B is the inner surface of the backarea and not the outer surface thereof.

After the gown 10 has been placed in the general configuration shown inFIG. 3C, the gown is folded or rolled downwardly from the top. This isillustrated in FIG. 3D. Note in FIG. 3D where a portion of the frontarea 12A is rolled or folded downwardly over a portion of theinside-outward sleeves 14. The upper portion of the front area 12Aexposed in FIG. 3D is the inner surface of the front area.

The folding or rolling of the gown is continued as shown in FIG. 3E.Again, the upper portion of the gown as viewed in FIG. 3E comprises aportion of a front area 12a, but again the upper exposed surface of thefront area is the inner surface thereof.

The process continues as illustrated in FIG. 3F. Note that in FIG. 3F,the closing tab 30C formed on the inner surface of the front area 12A isshown.

Eventually, the gown is folded or rolled to a point where a bundle isformed. The bundled gown is shown in FIG. 3G. In this orientation, thebundled gown 10 overlies the disposable wrapper 30. In order to placethe bundled gown into the disposable wrapper 30, the disposable wrapperis turned inside-outward and in the process wraps around the bundledgown as illustrated in FIG. 3H. In this process, the former innersurface 30B of the disposable wrapper 30 becomes the outer surface ofthe formed pouch or container. That is, by turning the disposablewrapper 30 inside-outward, the wrapper wraps around while the bundledgown is stuffed, pushed or placed into the interior area of the formedpouch. Therefore, the former exterior or outer surface 30A of thedisposable wrapper 30 becomes the interior surface of the pouch shown inFIGS. 3H and 3I. The former inner surface 30B of the disposable wrapper30 now becomes the outer surface or exterior surface of the pouch.Finally, the closing tab 30C, which can be a piece of tape, an adhesivestrip or other closing device, is closed down on the exterior surface30B of the pouch and this containerizes by wrapping the bundled gown.

This wrapper forms an additional line of defense, as it creates abarrier helping to guard against the transmission of possible infectiousagents, such as but not limited to, staphylococcus aureus andmethicillinn resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) etc., which can bespread on contact.

To facilitate the folding or rolling of the gown into the bundle, theouter surface of the main body 12 and sleeves 14 could be a differentcolor from the inner surface of the main body and sleeves. In addition,the gown 10 can be provided with indicia that facilitates and makes thefolding or rolling of the gown into a bundle easier. That is, indicia orlines can be drawn or provided on the gown to indicate the appropriateposition of portions of the gown during various stages of the rolling orfolding process.

In the embodiment illustrated, there is one tab 30C for closing theformed pouch or container. It is understood and appreciated that therecan be a plurality of tabs and, indeed, there can be provided a closingdevice formed in the disposable wrapper or formed in conjunction withthe gown that will provide a generally airtight seal when the pouch isclosed.

In most cases, persons wearing the gown 10 will also have gloves. Thesegloves can be removed prior to removing and folding the gown 10 into thebundle. In the alternative, the gloves can be removed during the processof removing the sleeves 14 and turning the sleeves inside-outward. Itshould also be noted that waist ties that might be used with the gownshould be of a length such that they cannot hang below the gown. Itshould also be noted that any process of removing the isolation gownthat folds or rolls the gown into the wrapper and adheres to hospitalprotocol (where the wearer does not have contact with the contaminatedportion) is acceptable.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the gown 10 canassume various designs and styles. However, the use of the integraldisposable wrapper 30 and the general method or process of disposing ofthe gown will remain the same. The basic method or process of formingthe disposable hospital gown into a bundle and containerizing thedisposable gown in a disposable wrapper will remain the same.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope andthe essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodimentsare therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and notrestrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A method of removing and disposing of a disposable hospital gowncomprising: removing the gown from a person; rolling or folding theremoved gown into a bundle to form a bundled gown; positioning thebundled gown adjacent a disposable wrapper attached to and forming anintegral part of the gown wherein the disposable wrapper includes aninside surface and an outside surface; and turning the disposablewrapper inside outwards and wrapping the outside surface of thedisposable wrapper around the bundle such that the inside surface of thedisposable wrapper is exposed and the disposable hospital gown formedinto the bundle is contained within the disposable wrapper after thedisposable wrapper has been turned inside outwards.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further including in the process of turning the disposablewrapper inside outwards, a pouch is formed where the outside surface ofthe wrapper becomes the inside surface of the pouch and the insidesurface of the disposable wrapper becomes the outside surface of thepouch and the method includes urging the bundled gown into the pouch andclosing the pouch formed by the wrapper such that the hospital gown iscontained within the pouch.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thedisposable hospital gown includes an inner surface and an outer surfaceand wherein rolling or folding the hospital gown into a bundle includespositioning portions of the inner surface over the outer surface suchthat portions of the inner surface are exposed and cover portions of theouter surface of the gown such that the hospital gown can be contactedfor the purpose of rolling or folding the hospital gown withoutcontacting the outer surface of the gown.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the disposable hospital gown includes a main body and a pair ofsleeves, and wherein the main body includes a front area and a backarea, and wherein the main body includes an inner surface and an outersurface, and the method includes: folding a portion of the back areaover the outer surface of the front area such that a portion of theinner surface of the back area is exposed and overlies the front area ofthe main body of the gown; folding a portion of the inside-outwardsleeves over a portion of the inner surface of the back area; andthereafter folding or rolling the disposable hospital gown into abundle.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the disposable hospital gownincludes a main body and a pair of sleeves, and wherein the main bodyincludes a front area and a back area, and wherein the main bodyincludes an inner surface and an outer surface, and the method includes:folding the inside-outward sleeves and a portion of the back area overthe outer surface of the front area such that portions of theinside-outward sleeves and the inner surface of the back area areexposed and overlie the front area of the main body; and thereafterfolding or rolling the hospital gown into a bundle.
 6. A disposablehospital gown adapted to assume a wearing configuration and a disposableconfiguration, the disposable hospital gown in the wearing configurationcomprising: a main body; a pair of sleeves extending from the main body;the main body having a front area, a back area, and including an innersurface and an outer surface; a pliable disposable wrapper for receivingand holding the gown secured on the inner surface of the main body ofthe gown about a lower portion of the front area of the main body; thedisposable wrapper in the wearing configuration including an outersurface and an inner surface; the disposable gown in the disposableconfiguration comprising: a bundle formed by the hospital gown where thesleeves are turned inside outward to form inside-outward sleeves and arecontained in the bundle; at least a portion of the back area is foldedover the outer surface of the front area and at least a portion of theinside-outward sleeves are folded over a portion of the back area;wherein the back area and the front area form a part of the bundle; andthe disposable wrapper assuming an inside-outward orientation whereinthe inside-outward orientation of the disposable wrapper forms a pouchthat receives and holds the bundle wherein the inner surface of thedisposable wrapper becomes an outer surface of the pouch and wherein theouter surface of the disposable wrapper becomes an inner surface of thepouch.
 7. The disposable hospital gown of claim 6, wherein in thedisposable configuration, at least a portion of the back area of themain body is sandwiched between at least a portion of the inside-outwardsleeves and the outer surface of the front area of the main body.
 8. Thedisposable hospital gown of claim 6, wherein the disposable wrapperforms an integral part of the hospital gown and wherein the disposablewrapper includes a side that forms a part of the front area of thehospital gown.
 9. The disposable hospital gown of claim 6, wherein thedisposable wrapper includes one or two sides and is secured to theinside surface of the front area of the disposable gown.